Tire Tread/belt problems of the 1998 Ford Ranger - part 1

I was driving on I-95 at approximately 80 miles an hour when I heard a 'popping' sound as if my tire was flat. The noise came from the driver side front. My truck (a 98 Ford Ranger) was pulled off the road and into the grass on the shoulder of the road. As soon as I heard the noise, I attempted to slow down by applying the brake and continued to do so as I moved onto the grass. Unfortunately whether the grass was to wet, or for whatever reason, my truck did not slow down and I ran into a tree- renderring my truck undriveable. I later found out that the tread of my firestone p225 70r15 wilderness tires had peeled. There was still air filling the tire, but the tread had peeled off.

While driving at 65 mph rear driver's side tire tread separated and wrapped around rear axle, causing vehicle to roll over. Dealer notified.

Consumer went in for his replacement tires for recall 00t005, the tires being replaced were firestone wilderness at, consumer is unhappy that the replacement tires are not similar replacements, general ameri 550 as p235/70r16 were used as the replacements.

Firestone, wilderness at tires were original equipment on a 1998, Ford, Ranger, and tires had 49000 miles on them. Consumer had noticed tread separation from outer sidewall where tread met sidewall. P265/75r15, dot w2b1pk. 2 firestone dealers and 1 Ford dealer stated consumer should replace all tires, 1 other firestone dealer stated tire cracking was ozone cracking and that the tires were okay, consumer replaced tires at his cost.

After market tire, p225/70r14 size. Tread on tires have started to separate in center of tire. Firestone wilderness ht tires, dot number vnfc1p4218, consumer states tire on left front is separating and tires have already been replaced, consumer found out her tires were separating when she took one it that was flat.

Firestone wilderness ht tire p225/70r15 dot w2uu1p0069 was causing a noise, so consumer pulled over to see right rear tire experienced tread separation, firestone stated they would replace 1 tire, however consumer states all tires are starting to experience similar problems with tread, firestone will not assist unless tires are on a recall list.

While traveling and after parking noticed tire tread was separated. Tires were not part of recall.

One tire has split in tread 60% of circumference. Others have smaller cracks/splits. ( dot number: vn08 tire size: p23570r16 ).

While wife was driving about 30 heard a sound, and the right rear tires were flat. Tread had came loose from the sidewall in three places. Firestone wilderness at p235/75/r15.

Pe00 020; consumer was traveling about 60mph on highway and heard a flapping noise hitting up against vehicle. Driver's side front end tire had to be replaced. Firestone, wilderness, p2257014, and #dot w2fc. He has contacted firestone. The customer now has tire separation on rear tires also.

While driving, there was an increased difficulty with the steering/handling, consumer took vehicle in for inspection and the front tires revealed that the rubber was wearing in a very unusual manner, it appeared that there were rubber studs protruding from the front tires where the treads should have been, however not being aware of the tire recall, consumer purchased two new tires of the same make and discarded the old tires, and the difficulty of the steering/handling seemed to have bee resolved, months later consumer then experienced a blow out of one of the new tires that were purchased, while traveling at 65 mph, consumer is now aware of recall even though tires were not apart of the recall, he is now seeking reimbursement. (firestone tires).

Tread separation at highway speed - normal inflation of 80 psi. (dot number: vd1l 1x0 tiresize: 225/75r16).

Both front tires have regular periodic raised tread portions, noticed increase in tire noise. Have never seen tire wear like this in 34 years of driving. ( dot number: tire size: p225/70r14 ).

Pe00 020; consumer was traveling on highway and noticed that front right tire was flat. Tire was coming in contacted with gravel/ pebbles would go right through the tire, causing tire to lose air pressure. Consumer contacted firestone, and had all four tires replaced. Also, tread was rapped on the outside sidewalls. They were firestone, wilderness #at, p23575 r15, made in canada. One tire went flat while driving, 3 other tires went flat while parked, a tiny gravel was found in each one and the dealer stated that the walls of the tires were very soft, the tires weer not replaced for free.

Consumer was traveling about 70mph on the highway and rear left tire on driver's side started smoking and completly came apart. Other three sounded funny on the highway. He replaced the other three tires.

Lost control when the left rear tire lost tread and blew out.

This tire had a foot long split in the middle of the tread exposing the steel belt. I did not strike nor abuse the tire in any manner to cause this. The tire dealership where I had this tire replaced also witnessed many other tires of the same type with I. ( dot number: w2fc tire size: p22570r14 ).

While driving about 60 mph left front tire had a tread separation without prior warning. Firestone wilderness ht 225/70r15.

Tire blew out (disintegrated) on freeway. ( dot number: ? tire size: p235/70r15 ).

Right front tire experienced a blowout at highway speed of 70 mph , driver & one passenger on a 1998 Ford ,ranger , original equipment,p235/70r16, dot unavailable. Firestione notified, and replaced tire at discount price.

While driving, consumer heard thumping noise and went to a tire dealer who noticed tire tread had peeled, dealer also noticed the other 3 tires were showing signs of tread separation, rigt rear firestone wilderness at tire p235/75r15 was replaced, dot vnhl.

Peoo o20; consumer was traveling about 30mph on highway and felt the tire going flat. He pulled over, and left front tire tread separated. Firestone, wilderness#at, p23575r15 #dot w2hl. Consumer contacted firestone.

In October 1999, a CO-worker brought to my attention that steel threads were poking through the tread on the left front tire of my 1998 Ford Ranger, which only had 12,840 miles on it. I had purchased it brand new fourteen months earlier from capital Ford. I brought the truck back to the dealership and asked how it was possible that my tires were wearing out. My front tires were very bad, the left one was so bad that the technicians at the dealership, carrie and joe, insisted that they put my spare tire on until I could return to have two new front tires. I inquired as to why the unusual wear was not brought to my attention two months earlier when I had an annual inpection done at the very same dealership, and was told that it was an oversight. Carrie contacted peter duerksen, the service director, who authorized his department to pay for half the cost of replacement tires and an allignment, which was performed November 3, 1999. I found out that there was nothing wrong with the allignment. I maintain that the firestone wilderness ht is a substandard and unsafe tire and should be recalled. I have corresponded to capital Ford and firestone with respect to this matter and have had no satisfaction. ( dot number: ).

The dealer knew my tires were chopping badly as written in the work order and only having 4837 miles did nothing. Currently I have 12,478 miles on the truck but cannot drive over 50 miles per hour. The truck vibrates severly. They say they are not in the tire business but offered to prorate and sell me new tires. They waited till my tires were out of warranty. I feel they were working with firestone tire. Firestone tire also refused to do anything. I have to drive my truck and I cannot afford to buy new tires and I should not have too. It is very dangerous driving my truck like this but I have no choice, I have to drive it. The tires are severly chopping, small and large tread defects / gouges thruout. Tread areas are lifting up. They say to keep rotating the tires and it will wear them down. I have done that and it get's worse. Now what?? thank you. ,( dot number: tire size: p22570r14 ).

Firestone tires experienced tread separation, on one of the firestone tires the steel belt was showing.

Insd was traveling on I-95, clmt was on the left side of the insured, clmt got too close to the insd, insd attempted to move over to another lane. The insd's drvier side front tire blew out causing the insd to hit the wall. The roads were wet due to the rain. This vehicle had firestone tires. . Model 225/70r14 althought these are not the tires in question, have any blow outs been reported. (claim# 59-v210-100).

While driving consumer experienced a blow out on right rear firestone wilderness ht(p225/70r14sl) tire, consumer stated she wrote firestone and manufacturer and she was told by both companies that tire was not at fault.

I had one of the 16" firestone tires blow out at freeway speeds. The weather was warm, probably low 80's. The tire was on the back of the vehicle and I was able to maintain control. The tire was shredded. I did not look for tread separation since I did not know this was a problem. I have replaced the tires with another brand, so I do not have the exact tire information available. I was rather frustrated when this happened because the tires were only a year old. I was told by the Ford dealer, in pocatello idaho where the blow occured, that blow outs were not covered by the warranty and that there was nothing to be gained by filing a complaint. At the time of the blow out, I would have filed this as a suspected defect if I had known how/where to report it. Thank you for your efforts. Mark( dot number: tire size: p235r70/16 ).

Pe00020, original equipment, tire size p22570r14, dot hykc138. Rear passenger's tire had a flat. Occupant checked the tire and tread started to peel off which may have caused a crash. Constant problem with the other tires losing air. Firestone was not willing to assist him.

Was driving 45- 50mph, had no prior warning, and left rear tire blewout. Vehicle was controllable. Pulled over, and noticed tire was shredded; replaced it with spare; took time for replacement tire. Do not have tire. P235/70r16 with 7,000 miles on a 1998 Ford Ranger. The old tire was not repairable and the cause for blow out of the tire is not known.

Firestone wilderness ht radial tire experienced tread separation.

Three of the firestone wilderness tires on the vehicle experienced failure, separation and air loss.

Firestone wilderness at tires p265/75r15 experienced tread separation, the third tire was a replacement tire.

Part of the tread separated from the casing. The firestone dealer said at the time it was a " road hazard, that you must have ran over something. " and charged me for a new tire to replace it. I know I didn't run over anything, but at the time what was I going to do? now that I'm hearing about the recall, I thought I should let someone know it's not just the 15" tires. ( dot number: ? tire size: p2357016 ).

I'm filing this for my dad, who bought this truck new in 98. When he first got the truck, a large piece of tread came off and when he took it back to the dealer, they steered him toward firestone who said he must have hit something in the road to cause this to happen. He knows he didnt hit anything. . . Besides why would it only hit one tire if he ran over something sharp enough to cut the tread, but that didnt stick in the tire? there is also a terrible roaring sound coming from the tires. After this recall started he took the truck over to firestone again and they rotated the tires, and said yes there was a large knot on one of the tires. When he took it in to be replaced, which they said they'd do free of charge, he was informed that the tires had been driven with the improper weights, out of balance and with the wrong inflation. Firestone are the ones who do all his maitenence!! so if they were wrong, firestone did it! please help me help my dad! I know these tires are not safe for him and my mom to be driving on!!( dot number: tire size: 14 ).